The Language of the Flowers was a popular method to express feelings where words might be improper, but did you know other means of doing so? Some ladies used their parasols, as well as their fans, gloves, and hankies to flirt with a gentleman (or alternatively, tell them to shove it!). — Bree

“This boy, then. He wasn't new. Wasn't one of the worst people in the common room, those rotten rich boys - like Mr. Jailkeeper - who could not fathom a world beyond their own farts. Was a good working class lad, so he'd heard. Had a bit of a weird looking face, and a bit of a weird thing for preaching. Still.”

The first in the Shades of Magic Series it is a Fantasy series that takes place in the year 1819 London - that is three different Londons in the year 1819. From Goodreads:

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

This has dragged me into its world and not let me stop reading it since I picked it up. Can't wait to hear what your experience is with it.

This is a discussion thread for people who have read or are reading the book in question. With that in mind, there are likely to be spoilers throughout. However, in the event of major twists or “how it ends”, please wrap content in spoiler tags.

I'm about a fourth of the way through this book and I'm loving the blend of fantasy and historical. V.E. does an excellent job with making the characters feel real. I have to admit I absolutely love the tone in which it is written. I know the plot is still building and can't wait to see what happens next.

(August 18, 2018 – 5:40 PM)Sisse Thompsett Wrote: So ended up finishing it and loving it. Even got the hubby to read the whole series. Cant wait till I have a chance to read the second book.

Shame on you for your husband being further ahead =P

I have the second on my bookshelf and keep intending to make it my next read, but I have so many books in my life that it's a dreadful distraction xD PERHAPS IT WILL ACTUALLY BE MY NEXT READ pray for me

— Aldous walks with a cane and pronounced limp as the result of a splinching accident. —— graphics by mj ❤ —

August 22, 2018 – 12:24 AM This post was last modified: August 22, 2018 – 12:25 AM by Sisse Thompsett

(August 18, 2018 – 6:01 PM)Aldous Crouch Wrote:

(August 18, 2018 – 5:40 PM)Sisse Thompsett Wrote: So ended up finishing it and loving it. Even got the hubby to read the whole series. Cant wait till I have a chance to read the second book.

Shame on you for your husband being further ahead =P

I have the second on my bookshelf and keep intending to make it my next read, but I have so many books in my life that it's a dreadful distraction xD PERHAPS IT WILL ACTUALLY BE MY NEXT READ pray for me

Hey now ;] I had several other series to start thanks to a certain someone and the summer challenge

I'm hoping to read it soon, but I'm a bit burnt out on fantasy right now. Actually started reading a history book instead. #misschool #historymajor